Beegk



No. 6|l,090. Patented Sept. 20, I898,

T. VON ZWEIGBERGK.

CONTROLLER.

(Application filed Apr. 29, 1898.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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C Jfmw 117m zww W 6 Jed/W2, rflm/ No. 6|I,O90. Patented Sept. 20, I898. T. VON ZWEIGBERGK.

CONTROLLER.

(Application filed Apr. 29, 1898) 2 Shoots-Shut 2.

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gm MM/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TIIORSTEN VON ZWEIGBERGK, OF CLEVELAND, OIIIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE VALKER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CONTROLLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,090, dated September 20, 1898.

Application filed April 29, 1898. Serial No. 679,195- (No model.)

T0 to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THORSTEN voN ZwEIo- BERGK, a subject of the King of Sweden and Norway, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Controllers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to provide a reversing-switch with a disengageable connection between its operating handle or lever and its body and to furnish simple means whereby such connection may become disengaged when the current is turned on.

Another object is to cause this disengagement without other action by the operator than the actuation of the governing-switch.

A third object is to lock the operating-handle of the reversing-switch when disengaged in stationary position.

A fourth object is to provide simple mechanism whereby the turning of the reversingswitoh oif shall lock the governing-switch.

One portion of the invention consists, broadly, of a governing and reversing switch having proper operating levers or handles combined with a disengageable connection between the operating-handle of the reversing-switch and the contact portion of such switch, and means whereby such connection is disengaged whenever the governing-switch is in an operative position.

Other parts of the invention consist of the means I employ for accomplishing my other objects or some of them, as hereinafter described, and definitely pointed out in the claims.

The drawings clearly illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the controller, the upper portion of the cover being broken away to show the interior. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly sectional, of the upper portion of the controller. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 on a plane which is normal to the shafts shown. Fig. 4 is a top view of the controller.

Fig. Sis an enlarged vertical fragmentary section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6.

The same letters of reference designate the same parts of all of the figures.

The controller shown includes a governing and a reversing switch, each consisting of a row of contact-fingers and a cooperating contact-cylinder, the term cylinder being used in its ordinary acceptation in the controller art and meaning a shaft and various contactsegments carried thereby through the intervention of suitable insulation.

In the governing-switch, B represents the shaft of the cylinder; b, the contact-segments, which are supported by suitably-ribbed arms I), projecting from hubs 13 which surround an insulating -sleeve 13 which itself surrounds the shaft. The contact segments or plates are so placed and connected in the governing-switch shown that it is of the series paralleltype. The shaft is journaled in suitable bearings projecting from the frame A of the controller and has the usual operatin g lever or handle 13'. A series of contactfingers C are suitably supported at the side of the governing-cylinder, as shown, and are adapted to be connected with the resistances and with the motors in the usual manner.

E represents the shaft of the reversing-cylinder. The reversing-cylinder is built up on this shaft by means of two rows of contactsegments 6 e, which are carried by suitable arms extending from hubs E which are separated by insulating-collars E and surround the insulating-sleeve E which itself surrounds the shaft. This shaft is journaled in suitable bearings carried by the frame, the upper of these bearings being shown at a.

A row of contact-fingers D, suitably supported and insulated, are adapted to engage with the segments 6 and e. The latter segments are carried by half of the hubs E and extend over the other hubs so as to contact with two consecutive contact-fingers,and thus connect these fingers together, while the segments 6 are located one on each hub and are adapted to connect with but one contact-finger; but each segment is connected with a segment which is the next but one to it by means of the connecting-bars E. The result of this construction is that when the contactfingers D are properly connected with the motors the change of position of the reversingcylinder operates to reverse this connection.

Secured to the upper end of the shaft E is a suitable hub F, from which extends a web f, having notchesin it, in which takesaspringpressed roller to be hereinafter more specifically described. The notches are so placed as to hold the reversing-switch in either its ahead, off, or reverse position. Thus the hub and web constitute What is usually called an indicator-wheel, and-I shall use this term herein, meaning a device so operating irrespective of its particular shape or contour.

The hub F extends above the shaft E so as to leave an axial recess, and in this recess loosely stands the shaft G, with which the reversing-lever G engages. This shaft is also journaled in a suitable bearing (1, carried by the frame, and is preferably locked against longitudinal movement by the rib-a on that bearing taking into an annular groove 9 in the shaft.

Between the bearing a and the hub F is a sleeve H, loose upon the shaft G, but com pelled to rotate with it by a projection from either the shaft or sleeve taking into a groove in the other. In the form shown in the drawings a spline g carried by the shaft, takes into a groove in the sleeve. On the 'under side of this sleeve is a projection h, adapted -When the sleeve is in its lowest position to engage with a correspondingly-shaped notch f in the hub-F. On the upper side of the sleeve H is a projection h, which is adapted,

when the sleeve is elevated, toengage with either of a pair of notches a or a on the under side of the bearing a. From this construction it follows that if the sleeve H is in its lowest position the shaft G, and hence the reversing-lever G, is in rigid engagement with the shaft E and capable of operating the reversingswitch, whereas if the sleeve H is ried by the frame, as will be hereinafter described more in detail. The leverJ is therefore adapted when moved to shift the sleeve along the shaft G.

Surrounding the shaft B of the governingcontroller above an indicator-wheel L thereon is a cam in the formof aplate P, which is circular for the most of its surface, but at a certain point inclines downward, as at p. This downward bend p is on the side which is next to the lever J when the operating-lever B is at its ofi position,as shown in the drawings. On the top of this cam-plate lies a roller j, carried by the lever J. This roller being in the depression 19 of the cam-plate when the operating-handle is at the off position allows the lever J to be in its lowest position, which is when the sleeve H is in engagement with the hub F on the shaft E. A spring 0, bearing downward upon the lever J, causes the parts to thus descend when the cam-plate P allows it. When, however, the operating-lever B is turned from its off position, the roller j is elevated by the higher portion of the cam-plate coming beneath it, and thus elevates the sleeve H out of en gagement with the notch f and into engagement with one of the notches a or a in the bearing a, thus releasing the shaft E and locking the shaft G and the lever G.

From the description just given it will be apparent that whenever the lever B is at a working position-that is, when there is any current onthe lever G is necessarily disconnected from the reversing-cylinder and locked in position. It is therefore not only impossible to reverse the motors by the movement of the reversing-lever G while the current is on, but it is impossible to displace that lever, the downward projection of the bearing a between the notches a or preventing any movement of the sleeve H. When the governing-lever is at the off position,.if the reversing-lever is turned to its off position, which is between the ahead position (where the lever stands in the drawings) and the reverse position,;the projection h will come under the portion of the bearing a which is between the notches a a and thus prevent the elevation of the sleeve. When in this position, the sleeve holds the lever- J and its roller in stationary position, and this roller being thus incapable of elevation prevents the rotation of the cam-plate P, and thereby locks the governing-cylinder against movement. Therefore when the reversing-lever is at the off position the governing-lever cannot be operated.

The lever G is preferably removable only in its off position and the lever B also, as is customary; but, as shown, when the lever G is at its off position the lever B cannot be turned, even if left on, and thus if the motorman is obliged to leave his car he may simply set the reversing-lever at its off position and can take OK this lever, which is much smaller than the lever B, and put it in his pocket.

The pivoting'of the lever J is accomplished by means of a pair of lugs 3' which project fromv it and take into hooks q, carried by a suitably-shaped block Q, which is bolted to the frame A. Extending forward from this block are a pair of lugs q, one below the other, and a pair of levers R and R are journaled, as shown, on a single pin g carried by the lugs q. These levers carry at their ends, the rollers 'r 0", which engage with the notches of the two indicator-Wheels L and f of the two controller cylinders. A single spring 0' contained between lugs on the backs of the levers R and It and held in place by studs 0*, projecting toward each other from said lugs, gives the rollers r r the proper spring force against the indicator-wheels.

A suitable stop for the movement of the governing-cylinder is provided by a tongue Z on the indicator-wheel L, which bears against one side of the roller 0' when the governingcylinder is at the otf position and against the other side of the roller when the governingcylinder is at its last parallel position.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. In a controller, in combination, a governing-switch, a reversing-switch, a reversing- 1ever,and a disengageable connection between the reversing-lever and reversing-switch, and means whereby such connection is disengaged whenever the governing-switch is in an operating position, substantially as described.

2. In a controller, in combination, agoverning-switch, a reversing-switch, a reversinghandle, an engaging device adapted to connect said handle to the reversing-switch,mechanism operated by the governing-switch for withdrawing said engaging device from such connection with the reversing-switch when the governing-switch is moved from the off position to an operative position, substantially as described.

3. In a controller having a governingswitch, the combination of a reversing-cylinder, a reversing-lever, a shaft for the same, a connecting device adapted to lock said shaft to the reversing-cylinder or to a stationary member, mechanism controlled by said governing-switch for so operating said connecting device, substantially as described.

4:. In a controller, in combination, a governing-switch, a reversing-cylinder, a reversinglever, a shaft for the latter, sleeve on said shaft locked against rotating independently of the shaft but adapted to be moved longitudinally into or out of engagement with the reversing-cylinder, and means for allowing it to be in such engagement when the governing-switch is at the off position, but for withdrawing it from such engagement when the governing-switch is thrown into an operative position, substantially as described.

5. In acontroller, in combination, a governin g-switch, a reversing-switch, two independent operating-handles for said switches, a disen gageable con nection between the reversinghandle and the reversing-switch, and a cam operated by the governing-switch for governing said disengageable connection, substantially as described.

0. In a controller, in combination, a governin g-cylinder, a reversing-cylinder, a re versin glever, a shaft for the same independent of the shaft of the reversing-cylinder a sleeve on the shaft of the reversing lever adapted to con nect the same with the reversing-cylinder, a cam on the governingcylinder consisting of a plate having a depression in it, a roller or pin engaging said cam and operating to withdraw said connection from engagement with the reversing-cylinder, the depression in said cam being so placed with reference to the contact-segments of the governing-cylinder that said roller lies in said depression when the governing-cylinder is in its off position, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with a governingswitch, a reversing-switch and a lever for the latter, of a disengageable connection between such lever and reversing-switch, and mechanism which prevents the movement of the governing-switch unless such connection is disengaged, substantially as described.

8. In a controller, in combination, a govern ing-switch, a reversing-switch,operating-ham dles therefor, means for rendering the handle of the governing-switch incapable of operating that switch when the reversing-switch is at an olf position, and means for releasing the handle of the reversing-switch from that switch and rendering the two independent when the governing-switch is at an operative position,whereby without looking the reversing-switch the handle of the reversing-switch is rendered incapable of operating that switch, substantially as described.

9. In a controller, in combination, a governing-switch, a reversing-switch, an operatinghandle for the latter, a disengageable connection between such handle and the reversing switch, connecting mechanism between such disengageable connection and the governingswitch whereby such connection is disengaged when the governingswitch is at an operative position, and means for preventing the governing-switch coming to an operative position when the reversing-switch is at an off position, substantially as described.

10. In a controller, in combination, a gov erningcylinder, a reversing-cylinder, a reversing-lever, a disengageable connection be tween said lever and reversing cylinder, adapted to lock the lever to the reversing cylinder or to lock the lever in stationary position, and connecting mechanism between such disengageable connection and the governing-cylinder preventing the movement of that governing-cylinder when the reversing lever stands at its off position, and causing said disengageable connection to lock the re versing lever against movement when the governingcylinder is at an operative position, substantially as described.

11. In a controller, in combination, a governing-switch, a reversing cylinder, a reversing-lever, a shaft for the latter independent of the shaft of the reversing-cylinder, and a disengageable connection adapted to lock the shaft of the reversing-lever to the shaft of the reversing-cylinder and operated by the move ment of the governingswitch, substantially as described.

12. In a controller, in combination, a suit able casing, a reversingcylinder within the same, a reversing-lever outside of the casing,

IIO

a shaft for said lever independent of the shaft of the reversi ng-cylinder,a disengageable connection within the casing adapted to lock the shaft of the reversing-cylinder to the shaft of the reversing-lever, and mechanism located partly outside of the casing and independent of the reversing-lever and adapted to actuate said disengageable connection, substantially as described.

13. In a controller, in combination, a reversing-cylinder, a reversing-lever, a shaft for the'latter independent of the reversing cylinder, a locking device adapted to lock said shaft to the reversing-cylinder or to release the reversing-cylinder and lock said shaft to a stationary member, substantially as described.

14. In a controller, in combination, a reversing-cylinder, a reversing-lever, a shaft for the latter journaled in a suitable bearing in the axial line of the shaft of the reversingcylinder but independently thereof, a sleeve on the shaft of the reversing-lever compelled to rotate with it butcapable of an up-and-down movement-between the under side of the bearing and the upper side of the reversing-cylinder, cooperating projections and notches on the under side of the bearing and the upper side of the sleeve and on the under side of the sleeve and the upper side of the reversing-cylinder, whereby said sleeve may be in engagement with said cylinder and out of engagement with the bearing, or in engagement with the bearing and out of engagement with the cylinder, according as it is in its lowered or elevated position, and means for so lowering or elevating the sleeve, substantially as described.

15. In a controller, in combination, a reversing-cylinder, an indicator-wheel at the upper end thereof, a recess on the upper side of said indicator-wheel, a shaft having its foot in said recess, a lever adapted to engage with said shaft, a bearing in which said shaft is j ournaled above said indicator-wheel, a sleeve on said shaft between the indicator-wheel and bearing, a connection between said sleeve and shaft by means of a projection and groove, cooperating notches and projections on proximate surfaces of said bearing and sleeve and said sleeve and indicator-Wheel, and means adapted to raise or lower said sleeve but allow its rotation, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

THORSTEN VON ZWEIGBERGK.

Witnesses:

ALBERT H. BATES, OHAs. W. CHESNUTT. 

